If you own a PS3 and PC Vita then you'll be aware of the excellent "Cross-Buy" function, which allows you to purchase a game on one system and then download it on the other for free — provided it's available on both in the first place, of course. With so many Virtual Console titles now appearing on Wii U, 3DS and Wii — not to mention cross-platform releases such as Star Wars Pinball and Rage of the Gladiator — it would certainly make sense for Nintendo offer something similar on its systems.

Speaking to Nintendo of America's Dan Adelman, Nintendo World Report popped the question we've been wanting to ask for ages:

NWR: On platforms such as Steam and Playstation Network they have what they call a Cross-Buy feature, so when you buy a game on the Playstation 3 or on a Windows PC, you can play the game on PSP/PS Vita or Mac/Linux, respectively. Is there any system in place right now or in the future to enable a similar Cross-Buy feature? For example, a game comes out on the Wii U that the 3DS can also run, and if the developer wants to enable customer play the game on both?

DA: We don’t have anything new to announce on that, but I believe that the idea’s been talked about. So it’s something we’re definitely up to considering if there’s enough demand from developers, but nothing to announce for right now.

Never mind demand from developers — it's the consumers who will want this the most. Wouldn't you be happier knowing that when you purchased a title on the Wii U you had the option to also download it on your 3DS at no extra cost? Would that encourage you to buy more games digitally? Leave a comment to tell us what you think.

Damien has over a decade of professional writing experience under his belt, as well as a repulsively hairy belly. Rumours that he turned down a role in The Hobbit to work on Nintendo Life are, to the best of our knowledge, completely and utterly unfounded.